Federal regulations require institutions to establish and apply reasonable standards
of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for the purpose of awarding financial assistance
under the Title IV programs authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended
(34 CFR 668.34).

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University) complies with this requirement
by monitoring each student's overall combined cumulative grade point average (GPA),
overall combined pass-rate (percentage of credit hours passed divided by credit hours
attempted), and overall maximum time frame for completion of the student's program
of study. Overall combined is inclusive of college level and remedial/developmental
coursework. Overall only includes college level coursework.

II. Scope

This policy is applicable to Federal Title IV programs, State programs (inclusive
of the Tennessee Student Assistance Award and the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship),
and various MTSU xcholarship programs. References to financial aid within this policy
apply to these programs. The following standards apply whether or not a student received
financial aid during the period(s) being measured.

This policy is used to determine satisfactory academic progress for financial aid.
Students should reference the MTSU undergraduate and graduate on-line catalogs for
academic regulations used to determine acceptable academic standing, whether or not
the student is receiving financial aid.

III. Qualitative Standard (GPA)

Federal law requires that the financial aid academic standard must be at least as
strict as the institution's standard for students enrolled in the same educational
program who are not receiving Federal Title IV assistance. Additionally, federal law
requires that for programs longer than two (2) academic years, students must have
a "C" average or its equivalent by the end of the second (2nd) year (regardless of how many credits they have accrued) or have an academic standing
consistent with the requirement for graduation.

MTSU elects to use the same academic standard as stated in the academic regulations
in the undergraduate and graduate on-line catalogs as appropriate.

IV. Pace Standard (Percentage of Credit Hours Passed)

Pace is progression toward completion of the student's program of study. Federal law
requires that students must progress toward completion of the eligible program of
study at a percentage rate that will allow the student to complete the program of
study within the maximum timeframe allowed for the program of study. SeeSection V.Maximum Timeframe Standard. At MTSU, this limitation is also applied toward State and specified University
scholarship programs.

Both undergraduate and graduate students must minimally pass sixty-seven percent (67%)
of their cumulative overall combined credits attempted to remain in good standing
for financial aid. Grades of "A", "B", "C", "D", "P", or "S", including any "+" or
"-" options, count as credit hours passed. All courses for credit will be counted
as hours attempted including withdrawals, incompletes, repeated coursework, and coursework
graded as "N", "U", "WD", "WF", "WP", "F", and “FA” . Overall combined includes college
level coursework and remedial/developmental coursework. The sixty-seven percent (67%) pass rate is determined by dividing the cumulative overall combined number of credit
hours the student has passed by the overall combined cumulative number of hours the
student has attempted.

A. Warning. This status is assigned to students whose pace has fallen below the required
sixty-seven percent (67%) .

During the semester that students are in a warning status, they remain eligible for
financial aid. Students will change from a warning status to a suspension status if
a cumulative overall combined pace of sixty-seven percent (67%) is not achieved by
the end of the warning semester.

Transfer students whose transcripts from prior institutions have not been received
or evaluated will be placed in a transfer warning status for one (1) semester. This
status will be updated once all transfer transcripts have been evaluated.

B. Suspension. Students who have not achieved an overall combined pace of sixty-seven
percent (67%) by the end of the semester that a warning status is assigned will be
suspended from financial aid for subsequent semesters. SeeSection XIII. Financial Aid Appeals. Students may still be eligible for emergency
short-term loans, other University funds, and alternative loans during periods of
suspension from financial aid.

V. Maximum Timeframe Standard

Federal law allows students to receive Federal Title IV assistance up to one hundred
fifty percent (150%) of the program's published length. At MTSU, this limitation is
also applied toward State and specified University scholarship programs.

Undergraduates. The maximum timeframe for the completion of a baccalaureate degree
is limited to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the program's published length.
Most undergraduate baccalaureate programs at MTSU require one hundred twenty (120)
credit hours. Therefore, the maximum attempted undergraduate college level credit
hours allowed for most programs is one hundred eighty (180) credit hours. This timeframe
limitation does not include remedial or developmental courses for which the maximum
federal limitation is thirty (30) attempted credit hours. The one hundred eighty (180)
credit hours include all transfer attempted undergraduate college level credit hours
and all MTSU attempted undergraduate college level credit hours. SeeSection XIII. Financial Aid Appeals.

Graduates. The maximum timeframe limitation for completion of a graduate degree is
one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the program's published length as established
by the MTSU Graduate Office in the graduate online catalog. The limitation by program
includes all transfer attempted graduate level credit hours and all MTSU attempted
graduate level credit hours. SeeSection XIII. Financial Aid Appeals.

VI. Repeats

Students should refer to the academic regulations within the undergraduate and graduate
online catalogs as related to how course repeats are counted in the GPA calculation.

For the purpose of this policy, all attempted undergraduate and graduate attempted
college level credit hours are included in both the pace and maximum timeframe measurements,
inclusive of credit hours associated with all repeated coursework. Additionally, all
attempted undergraduate remedial/developmental (R&D) coursework is included in the
R&D thirty (30) attempted credit hour limitation, inclusive of credit hours associated
with all repeated R&D coursework.

When determining a student's enrollment status for Federal Title IV purposes, MTSU
may pay for repeated coursework through the above specified financial aid programs.
However, MTSU cannot pay for more than one (1) completed repetition of a previously
passed course. The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program has additional
rules related to repeated coursework.

VII. Academic Fresh Start

For students who choose to participate in academic fresh start (refer to the undergraduate
or graduate online catalogs for details), it should be noted that the related coursework
must still be counted for financial aid SAP. Depending upon the student's academic
history, the student might be ineligible for financial aid. In such cases, the student
has a right to appeal. SeeSection XIII. Financial Aid Appeals.

A Financial Aid counselor will allow one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the additional
hours needed to complete an additional bachelor's degree to the existing overall credit
hours previously attempted for the first (1st) bachelor's degree. This new value will establish the new maximum timeframe that
the student can receive financial aid.

IX. Teacher Licensure

Students who have completed an undergraduate degree, and are enrolled in an undergraduate
or graduate program for the sole purpose of attaining teacher licensure, may be eligible
to receive Federal Stafford Loans at the undergraduate limit. Students must be enrolled
at least half-time in required teacher certification coursework. Students must submit
a completed Request for Federal Financial Aid for Additional Coursework Form and a signed copy of their Program of Study or an email authorization from a recognized
MTSU email account to the Financial Aid Office.

A Financial Aid Counselor will allow one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the additional
hours needed to complete the teacher licensure to the existing overall credit hours
previously attempted for the first (1st) bachelor's degree. This new value will establish the new maximum timeframe that
the student can receive financial aid.

X. Frequency of Review

A. Qualitative Standard (GPA). The Records Office reviews students' GPAs at the end
of each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Students who are academically suspended have
the opportunity to appeal to the undergraduate or graduate Academic Appeals Committee.
The decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.

B. Pace Standard (Percentage of Credit Hours Passed). The Financial Aid Office reviews
students' completion rates at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Students
who are suspended from financial aid for not meeting the pace standard have the opportunity
to appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. SeeSection XIII. Financial Aid Appeals.

C. Maximum Timeframe Standard. The Financial Aid Office reviews students' maximum
timeframe limitation at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Students
who are suspended from financial aid for exceeding the maximum timeframe standard
have the opportunity to appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. SeeSection XIII. Financial Aid Appeals.

XI.Notification to Students

A. Pace Standard

1. Warning. Undergraduate and graduate students placed in a warning status resulting
from insufficient pace will be notified by the Financial Aid Office of their status
and the requirements necessary to return to good standing. During a warning status,
students will be required to achieve a cumulative overall combined pace of sixty-seven
percent (67%) by the end of the warning semester or will have their financial aid
eligibility suspended effective with the next semester of enrollment.

2. Suspension. Undergraduate and graduate students suspended from financial aid will
be notified by the Financial Aid Office listing the number of credit hours they must
pass to regain eligibility for financial aid. The notification will include guidance
regarding the appeal process. SeeSection XIII. Financial Aid Appeals.

3. Probation. Undergraduate and graduate students for whom an appeal has been approved
will be notified by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee regarding the resulting status
of probation. Students who maintain eligibility for financial aid by meeting the requirements
of their academic plan but whose cumulative overall combined pace is less than sixty-seven
percent (67%) at the end of the subsequent semester(s) will be sent an email by the
Financial Aid Office notifying them of their continued probationary status.

B. Maximum Timeframe Standard

1. Undergraduate students who have 30 or fewer college level credit hours of remaining
financial aid eligibility will be sent an email from the Financial Aid Office reminding
them of the credit hour limitation.

2. Graduate students who have 12 or less credit hours of remaining financial aid
eligibility will be sent an email from the Financial Aid Office reminding them of
the credit hour limitation.

3. Undergraduate and graduate students who have reached Maximum Timeframe will be
sent an email from the Financial Aid Office notifying them of their status.

XII. Reinstatement of Eligibility

A student who has lost eligibility for financial aid due to suspension or a denied
appeal will be reinstated once the student has subsequently completed coursework (MTSU
and/or transfer) resulting in an overall combined pass rate of sixty-seven percent
(67%), assuming the student is otherwise eligible and also meets the qualitative and
maximum timeframe requirements.

XIII. Financial Aid Appeals

Depending on the timing of when the appeal is submitted, the appeal may not be reviewed
prior to when registration fees are due for the upcoming semester. Students may need
to be prepared to pay registration fees. If the appeal is approved after the semester
begins, the student will be considered for financial aid, if otherwise eligible. If
the student pays registration fees out-of-pocket, there is no guarantee that the appeal
will be approved.

A. Qualitative Standard (GPA). Students may appeal to the undergraduate or graduate
Academic Appeals Committee. The decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.

B. Pace Standard (Percentage of Credit Hours Passed). Students may reestablish eligibility
to receive Federal Title IV aid by following the appeals process which is outlined
on the Financial Aid website. Students may file for an appeal on the basis of extenuating circumstances which
were not anticipated and which have been resolved to the extent that they should not
create an ongoing barrier to meeting all SAP requirements. Such circumstances might
include the death of a relative, an injury to or illness of the student, or other
special circumstances. Students will be required to submit appropriate documentation
of the circumstance(s) which caused the student to fail to meet SAP standards and
information regarding what may have changed in the student's situation that will allow
the student to demonstrate SAP at the next evaluation, as noted in the appeals process
on the Financial Aid website.

C. Maximum Timeframe Standard. Federal law allows students to receive Federal Title
IV assistance up to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of length of program. See Section V. Maximum Timeframe Standard. With the exception of military credit, students will be allowed one (1) opportunity
to appeal this limitation to a designated Financial Aid administrator for a final
decision.

Prior to July 1, 2011, undergraduate students were allowed a one (1)-time extension
of twenty-four (24) attempted college level credit hours if they changed their major
during the their junior or senior year. These students are allowed to appeal under
the new policy.